RECRUITMENT OF COAT PROTEINS ONTO GOLGI MEMBRANES IN INTACT AND PERMEABILIZED CELLS - EFFECTS OF BREFELDIN-A AND G-PROTEIN ACTIVATORS

Brefeldin A (BFA) causes a rapid redistribution of coat proteins (e.g., gamma-adaptin) associated with the clathrin-coated vesicles that bud from the trans-Golgi network (TGN), while the clathrin-coated vesicles that bud from the plasma membrane are unaffected. Gamma-Adaptin redistributes with the same kinetics as beta-COP, a coat protein associated with the non-clathrin-coated vesicles that bud from the Golgi complex. Upon removal of BFA, however, gamma-adaptin recovers its perinuclear distribution more rapidly. Redistribution of both proteins can be prevented by pretreating cells with AIF4-. Recruitment of adaptors from the cytosol onto the TGN membrane has been reconstituted in a permeabilized cell system and is increased by addition of GTP-gamma-S and blocked by addition of BFA. These results suggest a role for G proteins in the control of the clathrin-coated vesicle cycle at the TGN and further extend the similarities between clathrin-coated vesicles and non-clathrin-coated vesicles.